What Fungus Is Killing My Thuja?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:30 pm

Many garden owners have hedges on their property, alone as a screen from prying people. One hedge is particularly preferred, the thuja, it is very robust and easy to care for.

Whether a Thuja is healthy, one sees usually already by its leaf coloring. If the leaves shine in a lush green, everything is fine. But if our plant has a serious problem, it shows it with brown leaves. But be careful, the discoloration has nothing to do with the natural brown coloration of some species in winter. However, if the leaves turn brown in summer, the plant must be helped immediately, in the worst case it will unfortunately die.

What is the problem with our thuja?

Here is not our plant to blame, but rather a soil fungus. This usually also means, if other plants are near it, they are also at risk.

Pestalotiopsis funerea

This most common and well-known fungal disease causes shoot dieback. The disease pattern shows a brown coloration starting from the outer leaf tips. This coloration spreads further and further until it reaches the shoots. The fungus is a so-called weakling parasite and causes considerable damage to the plant.

Didymascella thujina

This fungus is known to cause needle and scale browning. Initially, it is mainly older leaf scales that turn brown. These spread rapidly until later spar camps are visible. These show a worrisome black coloration and the shoot dies.

Kabatina thujae

This fungus attacks only the young and soft shoots.

Now you should act

The very first measure, there must be a radical pruning on the plant. If the plant suffers from Hallimasch, a fungicide can help. But this is possible only if the infestation is detected in time. In most cases, the infestation is detected much too late. Then, unfortunately, no fungicide will help and the plant and part of the soil must be completely dug up and removed. When digging up the plant, please make sure that you do not damage the roots of the neighboring plant.

The thuja and the diseased soil are in no case removed to the compost.